June death has been ruled a homicide

The death of a 49-year-old Battle Creek man in June has been ruled a homicide.

Battle Creek police said Thursday that an autopsy shows Mark Kinney was beaten and suffered fatal head injuries.

Kinney, 49, was found June 4 at the Haven of Rest at 148 E. Michigan Ave. with injuries to his face, head and arms. Police said he was injured about 4:40 p.m.

He declined treatment, but police had him taken to Bronson Battle Creek. He died June 27 but an autopsy was not immediately conclusive about his death.

Detective Nick Woolman said Thursday a final report from the Calhoun County medical examiner determined Kinney died of "complications from blunt impacts to the head."

Woolman had been investigating the case as a homicide even before the final autopsy report. He said he has interviewed several people about Kinney but those interviews have been difficult because Kinney either stayed at the homeless shelter or on the street and many of the witnesses also are homeless and difficult to find.

Woolman said a few weeks ago that he determined that Kinney had been in more than one fight about the time he was injured and investigators only had vague descriptions of who might have assaulted him.

Two weeks ago Kinney said he interviewed a witness who saw three men gathered around Kinney in a vacant lot across from the Liberty Food Center at 65 Main St.

The witness said one of the men knocked Kinney to the ground and then the man was pushed away by his companions. Moments later, the witness said, the third man returned and kicked Kinney in the head and appeared to search his pockets.

Anyone with information is asked to call Woolman at 269-966-3404 or email him at njwoolman@battlecreekmi.gov or call Silent Observer at 269-964-3888.

The homicide is the fourth of the year in Calhoun County. Four homicides were reported in the county last year and six in 2014.

Contact Trace Christenson at 269-966-0685 or tchrist@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on Twitter: @TSChristenson